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Science News for March 16, 2021


Can crops become more efficient?

Researchers at Michigan State University are exploring the impact of climate change on plants' efficiency, focusing on photorespiration, a process that reduces plant productivity. By understanding this phenomenon better, they hope to develop new breeding techniques and improve crop yields.

The fitter you are the better you burn fat - new research

New research from the University of Bath found that females who are physically fitter burn fat more efficiently when exercising compared to males. The study analyzed factors influencing body fat burning during endurance sports and explored molecular mechanisms behind sex differences in fuel use.

SourceUniversity of Bath·JournalInternational Journal of Sport Nutrition and Exercise Metabolism·DateMar 16, 2021

New study points to novel drug target for treating COVID-19

Researchers at Cleveland Clinic Florida have identified a novel mechanism that leads to MDA5 activation during virus infection, and found that inhibiting the PLpro enzyme may help strengthen the human immune response against SARS-CoV-2. This could potentially lead to new anti-COVID-19 therapeutics targeting the PLpro enzyme.

SourceCleveland Clinic·JournalNature Microbiology·DateMar 16, 2021

The city formula

Urban scaling laws, observed in cities worldwide, can be explained by the spatial geometry of a city. Researchers mapped building heights and assigned dots to people living in buildings to determine fractal dimensions, revealing a constant sublinear scaling exponent that determines city growth rates.

SourceComplexity Science Hub·JournalJournal of The Royal Society Interface·DateMar 16, 2021

Crying human tear glands grown in the lab

Scientists have successfully grown miniature human tear glands in a lab, allowing them to study how cells produce tears and what goes wrong. The model has promise for identifying new treatments for patients with tear gland disorders, such as dry eye disease.

SourceHubrecht Institute·JournalCell Stem Cell·DateMar 16, 2021

How hummingbirds hum

Researchers from Eindhoven University of Technology used a high-speed camera and 2176 microphones to measure the precise origin of the hummingbird's sound. The team found that the wing's pressure difference generates the hum, which is essential for lift-off and hovering.

HKUST researchers unlock the micro-molecular physiochemical mechanism of dental plaque formation

The research findings reveal that a novel microbial small molecule from Streptococcus mutans promotes biofilm formation via an unprecedented physicochemical mechanism. This discovery highlights the significance of secondary metabolism in mediating critical processes related to dental caries development.

SourceHong Kong University of Science and Technology·JournalNature Chemical Biology·DateMar 16, 2021

Sleep troubles may complicate the grieving process

A new study by University of Arizona researcher Mary-Frances O'Connor found that people with persistent sleep challenges before losing someone are at higher risk for developing complicated grief. Complicated grief is characterized by an intense and persistent yearning for the lost loved one, disrupting daily functioning.

SourceUniversity of Arizona·JournalJournal of Psychiatric Research·DateMar 16, 2021

Standing out from the crowd

A study by researchers from the Universities of Göttingen and Groningen found that companies' investors significantly impact the uniqueness of their chosen strategies. Dedicated investors, such as pension funds, can resolve the 'uniqueness paradox' by recognizing the value of unique strategies for long-term corporate development.

SourceUniversity of Göttingen·JournalStrategic Management Journal·DateMar 16, 2021

The blast that shook the ionosphere

A high-velocity atmospheric wave was generated by Beirut's 2020 ammonium nitrate explosion, rivalling those from volcanic eruptions. The blast caused electron disturbances in Earth's upper atmosphere, including changes in total electron content in the ionosphere.

SourceHokkaido University·JournalScientific Reports·DateMar 16, 2021

Is there life on Mars today and where?

Dr. Nathalie Cabrol proposes that modern life on Mars could be more widespread and accessible than previously believed, and that understanding patterns resulting from extreme environmental interactions is key to finding life. She suggests taking the approach of Mars as a biosphere to find signs of microbial habitability.

SourceSETI Institute·JournalNature Astronomy·DateMar 16, 2021

In women, higher body fat may protect against heart disease death, study shows

A new UCLA study finds that women with high muscle mass and high body fat have a greater degree of protection against heart disease-related death than those with low body fat. Meanwhile, men with high muscle mass and low body fat show a significant decrease in risk, but not as pronounced as seen in women.

SourceUniversity of California - Los Angeles Health Sciences·JournalJournal of the American Heart Association·DateMar 16, 2021

Patients value staff dedication most when evaluating substance use treatment facilities

Researchers from the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine used machine learning to analyze online reviews of substance use treatment facilities, finding that staff dedication and professionalism were key qualities that drove patient satisfaction. The study identified 16 recurring themes in reviews, with 'dedicated staff' and '...

SourceUniversity of Pennsylvania School of Medicine·JournalJournal of General Internal Medicine·DateMar 16, 2021

Militarization negatively influences green growth

A study of 21 OECD countries from 1980 to 2016 found that military spending hindered green economic growth. Militarization is a major consumer of non-renewable energy and causes significant air and environmental pollution. Economists recommend reducing military spending and transitioning to renewable energy sources.

SourceUral Federal University·JournalEnvironmental Science and Pollution Research·DateMar 16, 2021

Young adults in a 20-year-long study shed light on what matters for mental health of ethnic diverse youth

A 20-year-long study of Puerto Rican youth sheds light on the factors influencing mental health development, highlighting the importance of context and resilience. The study's findings have significant implications for understanding developmental psychopathology among ethnically diverse children growing up in disadvantaged contexts.

SourceElsevier·JournalJournal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry·DateMar 16, 2021

Ancient bone artefact found

A rare bone point, dated between 5,300-3,800 years old, has been discovered near the Lower Murray River, providing insights into Ngarrindjeri country's material culture. The artefact, likely made from a macropod bone, was found during excavation work and is believed to have been used for piercing soft materials or as a projectile point.

SourceFlinders University·JournalAustralian Archaeology·DateMar 16, 2021

Pick up the pace!

A new study of UK Biobank participants found slow walkers have over twice the risk of contracting a severe version of COVID-19 and are almost four times more likely to die from the virus. The analysis examined body mass index (BMI) and self-reported walking pace with the risk of contracting severe COVID-19 and COVID-19 mortality.

SourceUniversity of Leicester·JournalInternational Journal of Obesity·DateMar 16, 2021

New imaging technology could help predict heart attacks

Researchers developed a new intravascular imaging technique, ILSI, which can detect unstable coronary plaques. The technique provides a direct assessment of mechanical stability, allowing for early detection and treatment of high-risk vulnerable plaques.

SourceOptica·JournalBiomedical Optics Express·DateMar 16, 2021

Soil microbes left behind during decades of corn breeding

A new study found that decades of corn breeding led to a degradation of sustainable nitrogen-fixing microbes in the soil, contributing to increased greenhouse gas emissions. The researchers recreated the history of corn breeding from 1949 to 1986 and found modern corn varieties recruit fewer beneficial microbes than earlier varieties.

How sperm remember

A new study at McGill University identifies a non-DNA based means by which sperm remember a father's environment and transmit that information to the embryo, affecting gene expression and leading to birth defects. The discovery opens new avenues for studying disease transmission and prevention.

SourceMcGill University·JournalDevelopmental Cell·DateMar 16, 2021

Tear glands in a dish can cry

Researchers have created stem-cell-derived organoids that can produce mature tear products, shedding light on the biology of crying and dry-eye disease. The organoids can be transplanted into mouse tear glands and form functional duct-like structures, revealing new insights into potential treatments for Sjögren's syndrome.

SourceCell Press·JournalCell Stem Cell·DateMar 16, 2021